Under the Gun

24 days. That's not a lot of time to get in shape to run the AJC Peachtree Road Race. I'm well aware of that. But I've signed up, accepted the challenge and must prepare immediately. I know, I know, I should have started training months ago. But that clearly didn't happen. July seems eons away in April.

Most journalists work well, even thrive under deadline pressure, but I realize that training to cross the finish line is not like preparing for a newscast.

Still, I was comforted this morning to find a few online articles indicating it's not entirely impossible to prepare for a 10K with less than four weeks. Phew! But I'm a realist. I'll be jogging on July 4; I won't be racing from Lenox Mall to Piedmont Park. My goal is to have a great time while participating in this massive unifying event. The one thing I'm really jazzed about, other than my snazzy new purple running shoes, is jogging down the middle of one of Atlanta's most famous streets with thousands of other people bound for the same destination.

And while the finish line will be the destination and the goal on the morning of Independence Day, my larger goal is to live a healthier, more active life and continue working out long after July 4.

With that in mind, I welcome any fun tips you have for training since time is clearly limited. -Melissa Long